Roberta, Molly and Ed

Cromartie turned and grabbed the bags as they came to the trio. He placed the larger one on the ground, pulled out its handle, and placed the second one on top, clasping it to the poles of the handle of the bottom one. He then pulled out the handle of the second one. As he turned to the women again, Blisson took out her cellphone.

"Martinez, Commander Blisson, we're leaving now. We should be at Gate 17 in fifteen minutes." She looked at Cromartie. "We have suites at the Madison Hotel during our stay here. I can fill you in on the logistics as we walk."

The trio walked three abreast, Cromartie in the middle, the heels of the women clicking on the hard surface of the floor. Blisson explained "You are scheduled to do the morning TV network newstalk shows beginning Monday, the local radio talk shows late morning and in the afternoon, and you are to be available for whatever else the Navy has planned. The Navy has provided a car for our travel, with Petty Officer Martinez as our drive. I insist that we take advantage of the limousines of the networks whenever provided. You will also make a few appearances at sports events where you will be introduced as a real life Top Gun——a real Tom Cruise prototype. Any questions?" she asked as she ended her spiel.

Questions Cromartie had, but not the type he dared ask. "Any free time?"

"Not really. We're on a pretty tight schedule. Your fifteen minutes of fame might well end by next weekend. The networks, if not the American people, have the attention span of a four-year-old. So the Navy intends to milk every minute of it. We'll be with you through it all." She indicated herself and the lieutenant. "Waking you in the morning ... escorting you to all events ... tucking you in at night." At this, Blisson and Wynn looked at each other, smiling slightly. Cromartie didn't notice.

They exited Gate 17 just as the car pulled up, a Navy blue town car. Blisson entered the back seat first, followed by Cromartie, then Wynn, as Martinez placed Cromartie's bags in the trunk.